KC starts at NCIS

"What happened?"

"He was in a fight. If you have his medical records, it should show that he broke his jaw almost two years ago. That's where he was hit." She could still strangle Sam, both for KC and for Deeks.

"Okay. Let's get some x-rays done first, and take it from there. Was his jaw set last time?"

She nodded, explaining what the doctors had done. Although she'd been working at the time and Deeks didn't think she was there, she knew everything about it.

"Okay, we might need to do that again."

Kensi nodded, trying to put on a brave face for Deeks, holding his hand.

"I'll let you know when we get the x-rays."

"Thank you, Doctor. Is there anything you can do to help with his pain in the meantime?"

"I'll get something."

"Thank you. And if any of our family comes, can they come back?"

"Sure."

"Thanks." She managed a smile and turned her attention back to Deeks.

"Sore."

"I know, baby. You'll feel better soon."

"I didn't mean to fight."

"This is not your fault. It's Sam's. And he's going to regret it."

"Kens."

"I don't care, Deeks. I love Sam. But when he attacks my family for no reason, he's going down."

"Don't get hurt."

"I won't." She kissed his forehead.

"I hope not."

"Just rest. It won't hurt so much."

"I'm resting."

She saw the nurse bring medicine and KC was with her.

"Are you alrght? Where's Callen?"

"I'll tell you later. The doctor said he had to run some xrays?"

"Yes."

"It's not your fault. I should have listened to my own advice."

"I'm good." He had missed the concern in Kensi's voice.

"Okay, then." She turned to leave.

Kensi jumped up. "Be right back Deeks," she said as she followed her friend.

"I'm fine, Kens. You should be with him."

"Not until you tell me what's wrong."

"Your key still in the same place?"

"Of course. What happened?"

"Callen didn't know what to do. So I made it easier for him."

"Honey, I am so sorry."

She shook her head. "It...it amazes me that Deeks gets beat up and Callen doesn't know what to do."

"He's angry but trying to be there for both of you. I don't know why, but he is."

"Like I said. Now he doesn't have to make a decision."

"I'll deal with him for you."

"Stay out of it, Kens. Please. No one else needs to get hurt."

"Too late. I need to deal with Sam anyway."

"No. You need to deal with Deeks. It's not like it matters anymore anyway. He wins. It's not worth this."

"No! Don't let him get to you. I don't want you gone again."

"My being here has done nothing but tear you guys apart. And now look what it's done."

"It's not you. It's him."

"Is your key still in the same place or do I need to go to a hotel?"

"No hotel. You can stay as long as you want to."

She got what Kensi said. "I want to, honey. I just...I don't see a way without making everyone miserable."

"Sam will get over it. Just like he got over Deeks coming to the team."

"That's not the only issue anymore, Kens."

"Sorry?"

"If it were just Sam, I'd handle it. It's tearing the family apart. And I'm not sure what it's done to Callen and myself, but I know it's not looking good right now."

"It's an adjustment, you can get through it."

"Go back and check on Deeks. I won't do anything before tomorrow. I promise."

"Come back with me."

"You don't need me in there. Focus on Deeks. You'll be all right. Call me if you really need me and I'll be here."

"It's not for me. I want to make sure you are okay."

"I'm fine, Kens."

"No."

"No?"

"You aren't okay."

The nurses came and got Deeks for his tests.

"Did Sam hurt you?"

"You were there, Kens, you saw. He didn't hurt me."

"Good. Just want to make sure."

"Go check on Deeks. I'll talk to you tomorrow." She left.

Kensi watched her leave, her heart broken even more now.

"Okay?" Deeks looked up at her, wincing.

"No. How are you?"

He shrugged.

"What have they said?"

"Bad bruise."

"Better than I thought."

He nodded. "We can go home."

"Good."

"Are you going to tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"What happened."

"They had an argument over Callen not being able to choose between her and Sam."

"Idiot."

"I don't blame him in a way, but I still want to strangle him."

"So let me guess, now she wants to go?"

"Yes. She promised to wait until tomorrow."

He groaned.

"I'm going to keep her from it."

"Good luck."

"I will. I have too."

"You think Callen knows she's leaving?"

"Doubt it."

"I'd start there. Might kill two birds with one stone."

"Yeah. I hope so."

He settled into the passenger seat. "Are you going to call when we get home?"

"She's staying with us. I won't let her go to a hotel."

"I meant call Callen." The drugs he'd been given were draining him.

"Okay."

He lay his head back against his seat. Kensi drove them home.

Kensi helped Deeks to the couch, then disappeared into the kitchen, attempting to call KC.

"Okay...."

Callen watched in pain and anger.

"How could he?"

Nell paused. "I don't know what's going on. But I," she looked at Eric, "we like her. I wouldn't have wanted the job, not if it meant this."

"What are you talking about? KC was given the job because she's good at field work."

"That's one thing Sam said," Eric filled him in. "That Nell should have had the job instead."

"I don't want her to leave either. I like her."

"She won't leave. But I need to do something."

Nell nodded, watching him leave. Callen disappeared and found his partner in the bull pen.

Sam looked up like he had done nothing wrong, like he didn't know why Callen would be upset.

"You are a jerk."

"Nice to see you too, partner."

"Drop the act. How could you? I defended you to my girlfriend, made her angry with me all to save you."

"She doesn't belong here."

"Why?"

"You know damn well why."

"No. I don't. You tell me why."

"She isn't an agent."

"No, you're right. She's a Marine."

"She should stay there!"

Callen pulled out a picture. "You know how you've got a picture of Michelle and Kam?" He showed her the picture. KC still had her long black hair making her look more like a queen than a marine. "This is mine."

"So?"

"So she had to cut her hair. No, she didn't. The doctors had to cut it to get the bullet out of her head that she got defending her country. She earned her wounds, just like you did, just like I did. And she deserves to be here as much as any of us. She's earned it."

"How? By being your girlfriend?"

"What's the cutoff, Sam? How is Kensi good enough to be an agent, but KC not?"

"Kensi proved herself."

"How?"

"She just did."

"You're so full of shit. The only reason why you don't think she's worth anything is because I love her."

"She's not Joelle."

"I don't love Joelle. That's something that you and Michelle cooked up. I tried it. What, do you want me to be miserable just so you can be right?"

"She was perfect for you."

"She was perfect for you."

Callen stopped as he saw KC there. His heart caught in his throat because he knew she could choose to leave whenever she wanted. He almost smiled as he saw the fight back in her eyes. That was the woman he loved.

"You son of a bitch," KC directed to Sam.

"Excuse me?"

"You want to treat me like shit, fine. I've handled people tougher than you almost every day in the Corps. You're not going to get me to run and you're not going to get me to quit. If you ever try to hit me again, I swear to God, I'll hit back. You hit Deeks again, or Kensi, I'll kill you and hide the body."

"You don't scare me."

She smiled. "I'm not trying to scare you. I'm trying to give you a heads up."

"Whatever"

"Sam?" She waited. "I'm here to stay."

"No."

She smiled. "We'll see."

"Yeah, we will."

She turned to look at Callen. "Are you coming?"

"Yes."